If you are new to life coaching, you may wonder what you’ll be talking about in a coaching session.

Here are some things to expect:

The coach will be focused on listening and asking questions, not “telling you what to do or trying to fix you”!

The coach will be asking about your current goals and needs, not leading you to any certain topic.

The coach focuses on your agenda, perceptions, learning style, and personal well being; not on his/her own view of the situation.

The coach should provide ongoing support for the way you do things; not simply focusing on his/her ownperformance or knowledge about the topic.

Personal coaching can be a good investment of your time if you get what you need from each session.

Here is a list of things you can do to prepare for a one-on-one coaching session:

1. Determine your goal for the session.

Share with your coach some of the great things you’re working on right now. As you share, think about what you need to get accomplished. Sometimes we get “stuck” on a certain project, assignment or task at hand and need someone to “bounce ideas” around with. That’s what a coach does – helps you think about things you haven’t thought of yet. It might be in the area of church, family, job or relationships with others. Remember, all coaching is strictly confidential.

2. Don’t be afraid to share things you are struggling with – your coach is your friend.

What barriers or obstacles are preventing you from achieving your goals? What’s holding you back from achieving more?

3. Share things you’ve learned about yourself.

What have you learned recently that might affect the outcome of your goals? What kinds of things really work for you? What have you learned that does not work for you?

4. Think about what you should do next.

Based on what’s happened, what do YOU think you should do next? Bounce ideas off your coach.

5. List several questions you want to deal with.

What questions do you have that need answered right now or very soon? Keep an ongoing list of questions and prioritize them each week. Not everything needs an immediate answer.

Thinking through each of these 5 items may give you some insight in preparing you for your next coaching session.

By now you should be getting the idea that your coach is not going to “do your thinking for you” or “tell you what to do next;” but instead, will help you come up with some ideas about how to be more successful.